11/16/2007

Here's what's being done by fans for the WGA strike: "Now is the time to save ALL our shows. MAIL PENCILS pencils to the AMPTP and to any studios whose shows you enjoy...Maybe we can help the studios see just how much support the WGA has. And maybe, just maybe, we can give them a graceful way out (not because they're buckling under the writers' demands, but because they care so much about their audience. Us. And isn't that supposed to be their job?"

Okay, what is Pencils2MediaMoguls?We’re asking people to use our site to buy pencils to send to the six media moguls who run the six corporate conglomerates.

Why pencils?A lot of different fan sites were suggesting that people send pencils to networks and studios. United Hollywood and Strike Points met with some of the television showrunners, and together we decided to follow the fans’ lead.

Pencils have become the symbol of our cause: We are putting them down until we get a fair deal.

Symbolism, whatever. Let’s face it -- isn’t this kind of a waste of pencils? We were worried about that too, so we found a vendor who makes environmentally sensitive product: California Republic Stationers. Their pencils are made from sustainably harvested wood, which means they don’t deforest.

We’ll also send the media moguls suggestions about where they can donate the pencils to non-profits that teach kids how to write. After all, the CEOs aren’t writers. It’s not like they can use them.

What happens to the money from the pencils?Anything we have left over from our costs will go into the Union Solidarity Fund, which was created to help non-WGA members affected by the strike.

So who are these “media moguls”?They are the six men who run the multi-media conglomerates, the companies that control almost everything you see on tv or in the movies. These individual CEOs have the power and influence to make a fair deal and end the strike, if they choose.

Why can’t I just buy some pencils and mail them myself?You can! We just wanted to take our fans' great idea and make it easier. We’re taking a leaf from the Jericho campaign in which fans contracted with one vendor who could pool all their purchases together. That way, instead of individual bags of nuts, fans sent truckloads of nuts to CBS.

We’ve contracted with a single vendor to buy all the pencils for the same reason. We can deliver all of them in bulk, a truckload at a time, so the impact will be (we hope) greater.

You can mail pencils yourself if you want to, but joining together seems to have a better chance of getting noticed. It’s worked in the past.

If you do decide to mail pencils yourself, just make sure they’re not sharpened. And please be polite. (We know how hard that is. Trust us.)

How come it’s a buck a box?That price covers purchase and delivery of 12 pencils. (They’ll probably be packed by pallets instead of in individual boxes.)

And did we mention the “sustainably forested” thing?

All right, responsible pencils, I get it. But in the end, what are you trying to accomplish here?

We want the media moguls to start negotiating in good faith. We want the strike to end with a fair deal for both sides.

If we get a fair deal, it helps the actors, the directors, and the below-the-line crew members. Their deals are directly tied to ours.

Click to send a message to the moguls: It’s time to make a fair deal. We’re all on the same page.

Inverted Morality : those t-shirts are given freely on picket lines. Don't buy any on picket lines. On Alex Epstein's Blog there's a thing to buy different t-shirts all the funds will be donated. I'm not sure how trustworthy it is but you never know. I don't think Alex would give out a link to buy t-shirts it was phony.

Here's to proving that even a dead-broke student like myself can afford to spare a buck for the cause..Good luck, you guys. I'm not a huge television watcher, but even so I've called my cable provider to suspend my service until the networks are willing to provide me with quality programming. My thoughts are with you all.

Dayna: "I've called my cable provider to suspend my service until the networks are willing to provide me with quality programming."

You're going to have a very long wait, even if they went back to work today. I've just dumped cable due to a complete lack of quality programming. Has nothing to do with the WGA and everything to do with the utter wasteland that is TV.

And I'd like to just state, for the record, that anyone who writes for "According to Jim", they have absolutely no support AT ALL from me for the dross they spew from that atrocity of a TV show. The one benefit of the strike is crap like that won't be made.

Not to be all Rainy von Paradenstrudle, but I think this might be more effective if WGA had nothing to do with this campaign. A concerted fan effort is certainly a good idea, and it will hopefully show them who really has the public support. But since it comes from unitedhollywood.com it will be easier for them to dismiss it as writer-driven.

Don't get me wrong, I'm about to buy a few boxes. I guess I'm wondering if you plan to include personal information with the delivery... like "Real person's name from Mississippi sent you 4 boxes." I think that definitely should be included so they know the sentiment comes clearly from the fans.

There's no need to get all bent out of shape over this little stunt. Some of you talk like this huge windfall spent on pencils should be diverted to something else. Do you really think a huge sum of cash will be dumped into something like this?

As the post said, it's just symbolic, it's an attention-grabber. Imagine if you were a studio exec and someone came in and said a truckload of pencils was just delivered by a coalition of writers to protest the strike? You'd surely feel a bit uncomfortable, and you'd be reminded of it for many weeks to come every time you heard a pencil sharpener whirring.

Hi, I've been looking at the WGA website and I cannot find any link to donate money to the help fund. I wonder if giving the address so that people can donate money to help you guys and other workers if they're fired would be such a bad idea. Some of us might think that doing the pencils campaign is fun but is not supportive enough.

I'm still waiting to hear back from the WGA about how to donate to the strike and solidarity funds. I know their busy, so I ain't complaining. But I'd rather put my money directly into the strike fund than into pencils.

Still, given that union staff are generally overworked at the best of times, it might be a while before I hear back from them. So maybe I'll buy some pencils after I get back from my wedding tonight.

Anyway, regarding a few points...

Anonymous - In a labor struggle, there is NO SUCH THING as "not siding with any of them." Like the lady said, "They say in Harlan County, there are no neutrals there. You'll either be a union man or a thug for J.H. Blair." Neutrality is AUTOMATICALLY support for the status quo.

Timothy Barrington-Smythe: You may think According to Jim is a steaming pile of garbage (and I may agree with you, but I've never seen it). But that's not the point. Saying you don't support the writers who make that show means that you want the execs who put it on the air to make EVEN MORE money off of it. The money is coming in, the question is only how it should be divided.

Don't get me wrong. I do think this is a well intentioned, very respectable idea. I "bought" 6 boxes. If nothing else, it will help cement mine and others' appreciation in the union members' minds.My post was more centered around logistical information. I want this campaign to be as effective as possible, and I think that being able to show Big Media proof that these come from the fans would help. Of course, that's predicated on the idea that the people you are dealing with (AMPTP) are rational.. and I'm not too sure that's the case here.

Regardless, good idea. It really helps to at least think I can make some tiny bit of difference for your cause.

While I concur with those folks who say "please, let us paypal a few bucks into the 'keep a striking writer eating' fund", I bought my box as well; hopefully, y'all can arrange some news coverage when the trucks roll up. :-)

My comments on the purchase screen:

===We're pleased to see that you're returning to the table, Variety's mischaracterizations of why notwithstanding.

But we love our writers, and we don't want to see you shaft them. Again. And we buy the advertisers' products; don't think we won't remind *them* next.===

Wow, I thought it was just writers who overthought everything. This is just a stunt. And guess what? Stunts like this work in Hollywood. You can donate to the Actors Fund if you don't want to do this. It helps everyone. But really, so does this. It all goes to the same end. The end of the strike, that is.

While I like the idea at first glance, I have a few questions that were not covered in this post's FAQ.

(1) Does anyone think the Moguls will actually donate these pencils to charity? ;-) And on a related note . . .

(2) What's to stop the companies from simply refusing delivery when a truck rolls up to their gates? (OTOH, I guess if they do refuse, you can donate the pencils yourselves.)

(2) If the WGA (or an unofficial group of its members like United Hollywood) orders the pencils in bulk and has them delivered, how does this give the companies any sense of public support for the writers? The pencils will have come from WGA or United Hollywood and since they will all arive together, there will be no impression of thousands (hopefully) of Americans caring enough to give the time, effort, and money for this symbolic gesture.

I saw the field for us to indicate which show we were supporting, but does that mean every box of pencils is going to have a note that says something like "Paid for by a fan of L&O:SVU"?

(3) Now on the more practical side, I'd like to know where you will be sending these truckloads of pencils. One to each company? To the various studios? I feel like we're missing some of the finer details of this plan.

I'd really appreciate answers to these questions!

I want to support the writers and I think symbolic gestures of support are great, but I want to know that the gesture has been well-planned enough to potentially have the desired impact on the companies (I say "potentially" because I have my doubts about whether the companies or the men in charge care one iota about what any of their viewers think).

What they do care about is profit--obviously. So how can we hit them were it hurts? Why is the WGA (or its unofficial-but-affiliated groups) not calling on fans to stop buying DVDs and downloading programs until a new contract is agreed upon and signed?

Thanks for your time and stay strong. All love to the writers and their supporters!

To be honest, this should be more creative. What you should be sending them are pencils that have erasers at both ends...ya know, cause you can't write with it. Kind of a whole Greed Erases Creativity thing. That's my two cents anyway. I'll still buy the pencils none the less.

The site Alex Epstein links to is strikeswag.com. I'm the WGA member who started it. I'm selling bracelets and t-shirts. I had some of the shirts made. The WGA is letting me sell the others for them, including the gray strike shirts.

All profits from these sales are going to the WGA Union Solidarity Fund.

United Hollywood links to the site.

If you have other questions, visit strikeswag.com or email me at strikeswag@gmail.com.

How about labeling that box up there, "Writer or Show"? Many of us are fans of certain writers rather than just shows. Since this is about supporting writers, let us express our support for you individually as well as your shows.

I think it's a pretty good idea and it's a good symbolic gesture because it's something the studios can recognize as fan-driven because other campaigns have been similar.

I also want to point out, for the complainers, that I find it suspect that all these anonymous people have posted about how the WGA DOESN'T support the below-the-line workers but when the WGA makes a concerted effort like this to pool money at one source for the Solidarity Fund we have the same complaints. I guess there's no pleasing a bunch of corporate talking heads.

I'm a writer but not yet a WGA member. I think this is an awesome idea and have contributed and passed on the link on myspace. However, I agree with people wondering about the details of the plan. I added the following message with mine to really kick the studios where it hurts: "In support of the writers , I will not buy any DVDs, watch any reruns or internet programming until the strike is over. Please, be fair!"

Will that message be passed on to all six moguls? And I do agree that there should be some sort of list of the names and cities of all the people who contributed so that it is clear how much of it is from the PUBLIC all across the country (and world in some cases) and not just from writers/WGA members.

It would be great if there were a tally on UnitedHollywood.com that kept track of how many boxes of pencils were purchased.

Or if they could post a video of them being delivered on youtube.

I can picture it now, instead of a polite delivery guy going back and forth with his dolley-loads, it should be Sopranos style. Like, hundreds of thousands of pencils in the back of a dump-truck, that just dumps them on the front steps to the building. That would make me very happy.

I'm passing the word around via Livejournal, across fandoms. It's simple to do and allows fans - like myself - who actually are across the ocean to participate and show our support for the writers :)

Brilliant, and, if it were possible to know numbers, now and then (how many boxes/amount of donations/ possibly per show), that would encourage others to donate (and also stimulate fandom's self-pride too ;)

Sent my 50 boxes for my shows... never could say no to Joss! :) No matter what, I hope the networks can understand where the majority of the fans side in this situation... we will do what we can to help our writers get a fair deal!!!!

All you people talking about how we should send our money to a better cause probably won't send a dime to ANY cause, will you?

I support the writers as a wannabe screenwriter myself and a fan of their work. Writers are keeping whatever art there is left in mainstream film/tv. Without it you'd have Big Brother After Dark 24/7. AWESOME.

I think this is a great idea, if anyone else doesn't - fine. But I am getting so sick of the negative nitpicking. If you don't like the gesture, don't do it. Simple. Pencils are easily used and donated, it's on the studios if they throw them out. It gives the fans a voice.

Feature writers are on strike too -- not just TV writers. I walk the picket lines 20 hours a week and am feeling a bit left out here. Can you please include an option to support feature writers in the pencil drive?Sincerely, a striking feature writer

I think THIS is a better idea.And calling advertisers and asking them to put the heat on as well.

Dayna said...

Here's to proving that even a dead-broke student like myself can afford to spare a buck for the cause.. Good luck, you guys. I'm not a huge television watcher, but even so I've called my cable provider to suspend my service until the networks are willing to provide me with quality programming. My thoughts are with you all.

Purchased my 7 boxes today (in support of Heroes, 24, The Daily Show, The Colbert Report, Lost, How I Met Your Mother and Brothers & Sisters) with the following comments:

We all know the Internet is the future. To expect writers not to have a share in your billions of new revenue is absolutely ridiculous. I love these shows and will be sad to see them off the air, but I support them for as long as it takes to get a fair deal. These are the people that make your living possible, please treat them accordingly.

What's amazing about this campaign and this site and fan-based pro-writer sites like fans4writers is this is how the writers are going to come out ahead.

This isn't the last strike. The writers and the fans of their shows and films are using the internet to get the public on their side. Not too hard to do. The writers now have a direct line to the public that loves their work. Who are they going to side with? Joss Whedon, James Gunn, Steve Carell... or Rupert Murdoch, Les Moonves?

That's the studios' achilles heel. They just think in terms of studios VS. writers. They're so arrogant that they don't even factor in the people that keep them in business. I think they're in for a rude awakening when the public they hold so little regard for turns on THEM when they have nothing but reruns and shitty reality TV to watch. When they refuse to watch and start telling studios and their advertisers that they're not going to watch, download or buy anything until the writers get a fair deal.

It's pretty hard to argue that the writers, actors and directors have a lot more respect for the public that keeps them in business than the studios do. And the public know that, so let's see who will be hurt more by the strike when the boycotts begin.

Umm... I'm seriously not saying this to be a dick but: "Anything we have left over from our costs will go into the Union Solidarity Fund, which was created to help non-WGA members affected by the strike."

Hello, from a french TV Series fan. Up till now I seriously thought the writers, directors, and actors were making big bucks out of DVD sales, online streaming and iTunes downloads. I'm speechless to learn that you don't - although not entirely surprised that Hollywood Moguls don't want to share their profits. These CEOs don't care about their audience, they only care about the money they make out of their audience.

Excellent idea. :) I'm all the way down in Australia, unable to do much to help my fellow writers. :( This idea finally allows me to do something other than hope and pray things work out for everyone concerned.

Sent mine on in support of Supernatural and all of you writers. As someone in early childhood special education, I entirely understand. You guys do an amazing job and, aside from one reality show that I occasionally watch, I'll be more than willing to turn off the TV if they don't give you a fair shake. Who needs reality TV when all you have to do is step outside and look around?

Before there was television people actually went to the library for books to read. I guess if the Moguls don't get their act together and stop trying to keep the money all to themselves, they're just going to have to deal with the consequences.

Suggestion: how about posting not just a running tally of boxes bought, but a breakdown of boxes by fandom? We fans are so competitive -- you know that would spur people to buy more boxes to increase their show's numbers.

Here's why. I am a writer. Print and Internet. I have always been a freelancer. I have never known the rights of employment or the protection of a union.

Over the last ten years, I have also seen rights creap eat away at my income and the potential to sell my pieces in multiple markets. As a result, I earn fewer peanuts every year.

I don't want writers in other industries see their own incomes eroded. I want to see them thrive and keep the dream alive.

One day, I am going to earn some decent coin, I can feel it. Even more, though, I know the money generated by my imagination is going to line someone else's pockets. All I want is a fair share. And I want all the other writers to get a fair share too.

I've designated Tuesday as my solidarity day. No blogging, no research, no interviewing, no writing.

Recipients will not feel particularly charitable upon the arrival of the pencils regardless how earth friendly the stunt is so strike captains should probably be prepared to receive equal amounts of broken pencils and shavings.

Seems to me like the revenues could go to a sure thing where there's no question the money won't go to waste. Doesn't WGA have a fund for strikers having trouble meeting their bills?

Webhosting costs money, the price of color printer ink is astronomical and postcard paper isn't cheap either. But I don't see anyone complaining that those initiates are a waste of money.

It's only because we're all pooling our money together that it seems like more. But it isn't.

For example, if United Hollywood came up with a post card design and posted it for free for us to download and print, I would have to go buy printer ink for about $30 and $10 for a pack of 50 postcard sheets. If I were actually going to print the whole pack of postcards in color, I would probably have to buy 2 or 3 ink cartridges for $60 or $90. If I were only going to print one, I'd still have to buy the whole pack!

well i've counted 476 boxes minimum just from the numbers in comments posted. and from knowing a few people who have sent some.

im sure the numbers are much higher than that as anyone who just said "sent my pencils" or "donated" i counted as one box, and im sure some of them were more. that's 5712 pencils

still not a hugely impressive number. for an impressive deilvery you're looking at 2000 boxes minimum. but hey there could be that many. you'd think they would have set up a running tally, and been working on a fandom/tv show breakdown.

that was one thing nutsonline.com did. it automatically updated when you ordered some. and they set goals, and people were inspired to donate more to try to reach the goal. plus who doesnt want to see the numbers going up and up and up?

errgh. While computer geeks can whip up tallying scripts on a bottle or two of Bawls (and consider it fun)...I don't really expect strike captains to have the skills or time to do so. (Not trying to be insulting. I can't write TV scripts afterall.)

I'm assuming, since they're keeping track, they'll just blog the numbers the old fashioned static way at some point.

Do you have any information on where people can send money to the Union Solidarity Fund directly if they would like to? I think people who might not be a fan of sending pencils along with a letter might still like to donate money to that particular cause. :)

I have a friend who's a writer in L.A., and I spoke with her at length about the strike. While everyone is trying to "support the writers", most of the writers have cashed in what funds they have available and are moving on to other things.

I also question why strike when the WGA took in a whopping $260 million last year? It was a record breaking amount. Plus, the shows these people are writing are utter crap. More people buy canceled shows on season set dvds than are watching what's currently offered. So, could it be they're not getting paid more because they're doing a slack job of writing?

a) That $260 million is probably only twice as much as the major studio heads make in a year. If you don't get what I'm saying, I'm talking about 50% of $260 million going to 5 people as opposed to 100% of $260 million going to 12,000 people.

b) The writers aren't asking to be paid "more" they're asking to be paid "something". While you were speaking with your friend "at length" (assuming she doesn't write a column for a small newspaper) were you paying attention? Or were you imagining she was talking like Charlie Brown's teacher?

Okay so, now the tally is at 156,000. Which means either someone just bought a shitload of pencils in the last 10 mins or, more likely, I misread the tally. Either way, still wonder if it's 156,000 boxes or 13,000 boxes of 12.

Really? This seems childish. I'm a big supporter of the fight. The cause. This website. All that. Now that you are sitting back the table do you this is very wise? Do you think one box of these will get past the mail room? Seems wasteful. Both of time and money. The viral YouTubes are far more effective and you can bet those have been seen by the major players AND have had impact on getting things rolling again. I would encourage you to rethink this plan.

This is a wonderful idea which I support wholeheartedly. Our society is already one which deplores intellectualism, creativity and self expression. Let us not allow this to extend to the very people who grace us with that, the very product of which we enjoy for endless hour upon hour.

I see the tally now. No clue how I missed it before. Still would love clarification on whether or not we are talking boxes or individual pencils. (Though since 156,000 is divisible by 12 I am going to assume we are talking pencils not boxes.) Still very impressive!

MAybe you could send some pencils to the crew members who are losing their jobs so they can save money buying school supplies for their children. Or maybe they can use them to sign their severance checks.This is not a game and real people are being hurt. Quit thinking of stupid stunts and get back to the table so people can have a good Christmas or Hannukah. You are not laborers and you never will be.

I just tried to buy pencils, and PayPal said the store was not authorized (or some such). Tried multiple times, changing punctuation in my dedication (since commas can throw off some programs). Is this a Firefox thing? Or my employer's firewall? Um, I'm doing this at work...

Just sent 5 boxes in support of Heroes, Chuck, Grey's Anatomy, and Pushing Daisies, with the following message:

"You can no longer continue to underestimate the power and intelligence of television viewers! If you think we are going to side with the studios and networks on these issues just because our favorite shows are shutting down, you are sadly mistaken. We know the true issues of this strike and we support the writers' efforts in obtaining their share of your exploitation of their work in various digital media for your personal gain."

I bought twenty boxes, because I believe in good writing, and to get good writers, you need to feed them and keep them around. My shows are Heroes, Chuck, Pushing Dasies and anything by Joss Whedon. Keep up the spirit.-cqt

The writers have my full support. Just sent my pencils for The Office in honor of their excellent webisodes (for which they received no compensation), and for Farscape, which was supposed to return after three years in the form of webisodes but is being delayed yet again because of the strike. Not paying writers for creating this kind of material for the internet is beyond shameful.

Lexigeek has provided a great service - but it would really behoove you to provide a cut-and-pastable link that people could use on their own blogs, myspaces, friendsbooks, facesters, and blogspaces. An all-in-one thing that provides a link and a space to make a donation - like the one you all have in your collumn to the right.

I put my own meager version on allnewyear.com, and sent in my own pencils, and hope that we can make it easy as possible for other people to do the same thing.

From the desk of Geotku:Unions matter, solidarity matters even more. That being said, the big six media moguls need to remember that its quiet underrepresented masses that watch the most television, thus its commercials... Spend their meager wages via the inundation of those whom buy 30 second spots. It seems to me that you need to be reminded whom is actually the boss here and whom is the employee. So, I bought quite a few boxes to stave off any incidental social unrest... Let the muted multitudes view in peace.

As a TV fan (from the other end of the world) who has supported various similar campaigns, I can vouch that, stunt-or-not, Pencils2MediaMoguls will get the networks' attention. They may not like it, but they won't be able to ignore it.

Les Moonves gave our balloon delivery guys hell by shuttling them from door to door, intimidating them and stuffing our bright breezy balloons in the basement ... but I think next time he sees balloons, he'll definitely remember us CSI fans ;-)

CBS did donate the Jericho nuts and the Jorja Fox dollar bills sent in by fans to charity. So I'm sure if they have, say, half a million pencils lying around, they'd probably do the same.

And it's a dollar ... for 12 pencils. And it costs me nothing in shipping. I'd gladly donate to funds in support of workers affected by the strike, just as I donated to a charity of my favourite actress' choice in her honour.

But a dollar for pencils? I can spare that, too. In fact, I can spare six. So ... here's to all the hotshot media moguls. May you find your hearts this Thanksgiving.

you know you're just making life a living hell for mailroom people, right?

the moguls will never see the pencils, but you are making a ton of work for the regular staff of the place, people who really could do without some jackass making them deal with a thousand boxes of pencils showing up on his desk every day.

Send a donation to the OTHER unions affected by the strike, so that all the prop guys, makeup people, etc. can eat while they're out of work as a result of the writers' strike. They're the only ones who are truly suffering here.

aegisknight said... you know you're just making life a living hell for mailroom people, right?

Actually, the idea of ordering through United Hollywood is that the pencils will be delivered in one bulk delivery instead of thousands of individual packages. One large delivery of pencils will do very little to affect the mailroom.

I wish I had a buck to buy some with, but unfortunatly for me, I'm poor as a mouse. *chuckles*. I just want to say that you people need to buy loads of these things for Supernatural and Heroes. *nods* They are two of the best shows on the planet and deserve our support. The writer's do alot of hard work to keep up entertained.

Sent ten boxes, will send more later. For those of you who are posting comments saying how stupid this is, f*ck off. This is a way using symbolism to try and get the moguls to get the big picture and see how many people really support this, how it's not just the writers and a few other people.

There is nothing wrong with spending a few dollars to help a group that's being treated unfairly. This effects many more people than just the writers. Besides, once this gets solved, that's one less dispute in the world.

As a 'wanna-be' writer and a total fan of all writers- I have to let people know that as an executive assistant for the past six years, it was my job to screen everything. These pencils have a good chance of never even being seen let alone coming to the attention of the execs listed here. If you want to get them where they live, bombard their advertisers with letters. That's when they listen. How many times have shows been taken off the air because of a couple of loud complaints? You have to get their attention by tugging on their bottom line. Shareholders count, no one else does.That said, I really do wish all the writers the best. They definitely deserve this upgrade.

I work for Jeffrey Immelt (NBC/Universal/GE) and his desk is clean as a whistle and his office is paper free. He has the mailroom, a clerk, a receptionist and then finally his assistant screen through all letters and packages and only business-to-business related documents are given to his assistant and maybe even not then he gets it. I work HIGH UP in Jeffrey Immelt's office and we have seen NO pencils or truckloads or anything. Sorry. Your best bet, go to the advertisers. Trust me on this. Divert your shipments to the key advertisers. Your best bet, go to the advertisers. Trust me on this. Divert your shipments to the key advertisers. Your best bet, go to the advertisers. Trust me on this. Divert your shipments to the key advertisers. Your best bet, go to the advertisers. Trust me on this. Divert your shipments to the key advertisers. Your best bet, go to the advertisers. Trust me on this. Divert your shipments to the key advertisers. Your best bet, go to the advertisers. Trust me on this. Divert your shipments to the key advertisers. Your best bet, go to the advertisers. Trust me on this. Divert your shipments to the key advertisers.

i do not believe the pencils have been shipped yet, so of course nothings been seen yet. plus no media mogul has a desk "as clean as a whistle" as you put it. hell no one who does any kind of work has a desk without something on it. lol

for those suggesting we spend our money supporting charities, it has already been said that these pencils will be shipped with a request to send them on to schools in need. that's charity right there folks. i doubt the networks would be so stupid as to throw them out. could you imagine the uproar if they did? or kept them for their own office supplies? gee, talk about confirming the peoples beliefs that they are selfish pigs.

many of us have donated to the Actors fund, the food for thought program, and so on. it may not be the main charities you can think of, but it is still charity to donate to them, so please dont knock what we are doing here.

although, at the end of the day, when this strike is over, i would like to see the WGA/united hollywood pick a charitable cause to donate to, and reach out to the eople who read this blog and others, to donate to it, much like the Jericho campaign helped out Greensburg, Kansas, who were struck by the hurricanes etc and needed help to rebuild.

Wow. I only make $45,000 a year, while writers make an average of $200,000 a year. Care to send some pencils my way?

You guys are really cute, but soooooooo stupid and misguided. Like writers care about you. They only care about feathering their own already heavily loaded pocket books.

Get a book on entertainment economics. Then learn the difference between "network," "studio," "advertisers," and "producers." Then see just how idiotic some of your comments are to anyone who knows anything about how TV is funded, produced and distributed.

To all of those people like this last poster let me just say I'm a screenwriter who has made a living as writer for over twenty years and since January first 2007 I have earned nothing. $0. Zero. Zilch. Not so much as a penny. That's what I've made as a writer this year. I don't work in TV. I'm not on salary anywhere. And I don't have a second job. Its been over a year and a half since I optioned my last screenplay. Not sold, optioned. That means I was paid $10,000 for it. And I have a writing partner who split half of that with me. That is after my agent took ten percent and my attorney took five percent. An since the script was not made into a movie I never made another dime from it.

I'm not complaining, its part of the risk that comes with being a screenwriter. I'm proof of that. At the moment I don't have health insurance because I haven't earned enough as a writer to qualify for it. It sucks, but I accept it.

Most writers do not make $200,000 a year. A lot of them don't even have careers as marginal as mine. So when you're lumping us all in one group try to understand that we're no different from anyone else that works for a living. We work hard to support ourselves and our families and thus wanted to be paid fairly for it.

Oh, wait... I guess there is one difference. I worked my ass off as a screenwriter this year and was paid nothing for it. How much did the rest of you who aren't writers make in salary this year?

I coudn't sent any pencils because my computer doesn't want to. I understand why the writers are doing this and i'm with them a 100% but don't let our t.v. show down like they did with dark Angel!!! I want to sent many pencil to the creaters and writers of Supernautral my favorite t.v. show!!! All of canadian fan especially from Montreal want Supernatural to continue, don't let the show down PLEASE!!!! WE LOVE SUPERNATURAL!!! GO GO GO!!

I'm all the way in Brazil, so I can't go to the picket line. I'd send a letter to the studios but I doubt that a letter from someone in Brazil will make much of different to them. So I'm sending the pencils very proudly because I want to help. I would do more if I could (I'm accepting suggestions).

I like the idea of sending the pencils. But I think there should be a more effective way to make an impact on them. I don't know how this works but I was thinking us viewers could go on strike too. Turn off our TVs no matter how painful that is. Stop watching the videos online. I think if they feel a real difference on their viewer rates it's going to affect them more.

We could get organized, and unite a bunch of people and make a date to turn off TVs for a couple of days or a week. Make a real effort. People are losing their jobs over this, how would you like that if it was you? It's worth making an effort.

Some good and persuasive writer could write an e-mail asking people to join and easily this could get spread all over the internet via myspace, regular e-mails, youtube.

I'm sorry if I'm going overboard here. I really feel for their cause (the writers). They do a great job and they should be fairly paid by it. I'm sorry for any spelling mistakes or miss use of words. I try my best with my second language. ;)

12 boxes of pencils sent from here. I didn't notice the comment to moguls box until after I"d paid for it so I might have to send some more later. Hang in there all! My TV's off and it is going to stay off until this is resolved. Frankly the longer the studios refuse to give you all a fair deal, I think the more they deserve to lose. It's not as if they're going to go hungry if they lose all their writers. Has anyone considered starting a new network run by writers for the writers? Oh yeah... the whole money corruption thing... well it might work!

I just sent pencils. I support the writers because they deserve more than what they are getting. Without the writers, all we will have is reality television and game shows 24/7, and with that and reruns, viewers will exercise their right not to watch...(perhaps the media moguls should note that).

Writers deserve a cut of the profits for ALL media venues in which their shows are watched.

lol. someones been watching a certain vieo on youtube. which hey, might be believable if they hadn't quite obviously picked numbers out of the air. you can't put a $$ amount on residuals, as they are based on sales. so they had to have plucked it straight from the air. plus i doubt very many writers get 4 million as a single payment for anything.

I hope they don't turn around and sell the pencils. I hope plan works out. You all deserve more money than what is being asked. Here are ideas I've come up with

An interactive game where we could dress up the monguls in different outfits and make them do silly stuff (not perverted stuff just silly). This would be another way of making fun of them.

Include personal info with contact info or even their mistresses' contact information. Maybe not, bad idea, just being silly now.

Writer's send in pictures of their kids wearing raggedy clothing with a letter saying, "for a dollar a day, you can bring this child out of poverty" or have the kids send in pics of their parents sitting around drinking alcohol or a Christmas tree with no presents.(I think kids would get a kick out of this, esp. if on tv)All of my ideas may be crap,and I apologize ahead of time if anyone is offended. I really do hope things get settled soon!! Good luck!!!

As fans we want to do something dramatic that will help the writers but pencils will likely go straight to the trash rather than be recycled or donated a financially-strapped public school. At 12 pencils per box, people have spent (as of this writing) $28, 047.00 --- 1 million pencils translates to $83,333.00 -- for expendable pencils. Donations to a charity in the name of the WGA are a way to garner positive media coverage which expresses your support for the WGA while making a lasting contribution to another cause you care about.

Contribute to a cause then send postcards to the studios -- with copies to the media -- stating "I've made a donation to ____ in the name of the WGA. We're doing the write thing, why don't you?"

Here are a few possibilities, but just choose something you care about.

- a "Habitat for Humanity" construction project would be a great way to provide housing for a needy person and lends to the issue of long term financial stability. (http://www.habitatla.org/habitat.asp)

- sponsor a reading project for kids to address the critical need for reading skills -- would not only help in terms of literacy but also lend to the writers-consumers angle. (http://www.knbc.com/thequills/9419909/detail.html)

- St Jude's Children's Research Hospital has established ties with celebrities who are also empathetic to WGA's cause. These existing relationships can provide media support to St. Jude's while showcasing WGA/celebrity efforts in their regard.

who would attend a WGA sponsored event and , surely this be levered as a fund raiser for the hospital in partnership with WGA. (http://www.tg.stjude.org/celebrityfriends.shtml)

This is a way to make a lasting impact for both the WGA members and sympathizers while helping others in need. Please consider the notion.

Just sent my pencils. You guys deserve better than the companies are treating you. Writers are what make the shows funny, sad, or whatever emotion you are having. The shares arent divided equally, keep striking until the companies realize.

I've sent my pencils, will send more, and just wondered ... are there any plans for letting people know how the pencil count is going? I've seen comments here and there about people wishing they had some idea of progress, and I honestly have no clue if such a meter exists?

How are we doing? Can you post updates? Are we at 3,000, 30,000, 300,000 or more? Fans really would love to know, so we can measure how much difference we're making? Pretty please?

Plus it would make it easier for *me* to sell the idea around the "Supernatural" fandom ... :-)Cheers ~

you may not have read the FAQ but we have pre-arranged donation points for the pencils if the studios refuse the delivery, or even if they accept the delivery! The pencils aren't going into the trash. Please take a minute and read the FAQ and hopefully it will address your concerns.

I am so excited about this idea and I hope it is working! I've just posted a blog at Sofachip.com that will help you educate any family or friends who aren't understanding what the strike is about. I also have started including a link to this site on my blog entries. :)

I want to know if WGA supporters are boycotting DVDs or still buying them to support the writers? If you'd like to let me know and maybe have a quote included in an article on the blog, e-mail me at unraveled.moment at gmail dot com.

Well, hell. Has anybody successfully posted the Pencils widgit to LJ or wherever? I was able to send it over to my blog - which I like never otherwise use - but the code doesn't seem to work on LJ. Or whever. Help? Anybody? Bueller?

I support the writer's strike just as I support Ron paul for President...2 seemingly impossible feats but necessary by all means! Let's go people, unite, do not buckle under pressures. We are closer than we think!!

Support our writers. Stop letting corporate billionaires run the world. Yes, I said run the world. In actuality, what these cretins are doing is ruining the world. While they'll soon croak, from these keystrokes to a higher power's eyes, their heirs will likely follow in their greedy footsteps. Hang in there!

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